Underappreciated luxuries
 

Yesterday morning I was telling my brother-in-law how I think that an attached garage with an electric door lift is one of the most underappreciated lixeries of our time. I'm fortunate in that I didn't have that for most of my life so, now that I do, I don't think that I take it for granted so much as some other people.

You know where this is going. As we returned to our condo the door refused to lift. It wouldn't respond to the key pad, either of the inside buttons, or to the remote inside my wife's car. I checked for power to the lift mechanism and I can hear a "click" as I operate the button, but no lift. It must be a worn out relay or some electronic gizmo that I'm not smart enough to figure out.

My garage door doesn't even have an outside handle so operating it manually isn't really an option. That's also the way that my wife and I normally go into and out of our condo. PITA! Oh well, a problem that a little money can solve can't be much of a problem. Also, I'll be more appreciative of it once I get it fixed.

Can anybody else think of some modern luxeries that we commonly take for granted?

Flush toilets, running water, electric lights, heat, etc. Tim

heated car seats in the winter, mmmmmmmmmmm............

computers, Internet, modern electronics and the incredible reliability of such. Think that 20 years ago the internet was a mere infant.

And spell checkers, which i chronically forget

I'm in the rental car business, so it's easy to see how spoiled we have gotten with remotes, power windows, power mirrors and of course the GPS. I actually have customers refuse cars that do not have a remote and some can't seem survive without a GPS. I can still remember the old family vacations in the big Chevy Stationwagon without air or power steering. I can remember flying down the highway with the windows rolled down while trying to read a fold out map.

My how fast we forget

My opener stripped the gear about two years ago. Fortunately, my door has an outside handle. Yes, we do take having those things for granted when they work.

The interesting thing in your topic is that when you really appreciate any of these things is when they quit working. We spent the day without internet a couple of weeks ago because our local phone service had a problem. I use the internet all day every day for work and play and hadn't thought it magical until it finally came back on the other night

whew! I thought you were gonna describe how you smashed your top-racked bike into the garage overhead. I am so relieved it was just some other kind of mechanical malfunction.

Remember getting up to change the channels (only three to choose from) on the Television?

I still only have 4.

With all due respect, you ARE in Montana, just sayin' ;)

That's another story although it at least has bicycle content. I used to put my garage door opener into the glove box to remind me that I had bikes on top. I permanently solved that problem by buying a car that bikes would fit inside (the $25,000 solution). I was never able to get 100% comfortable with bikes on the roof.

It may sound kinda sappy but I expect that the luxury I'll miss the most if I ever loose it will be my ...







wife. There, I said it.

Very well said.

Oooh, he's good!

Yep growing up in the country. We used outhouses till I was 11. I can still remember the 'queezi-ness' (sp?) of
gasp using the inside of the HOUSE to go to the bathroom. And also, I sure don't miss the saturday night TUB bath. I remember seeing a real shower in HS - First time I used it I was amazed

Bicycles, laptop computers, hot water heaters, down comforters, and text messaging.
Oh, and bike helmets, because without mine, I wouldn't be writing this or anything else, ever.

Just lit the fireplace by flicking a switch,ya gotta love gas fireplaces!

I guess I am way back there. I enjoy having a glass of milk without having to milk the cow.

Cameras with no potential for film advance issues or running out of film, for that matter.
I miss taking film to the drugstore and then the long wait until my CD's came back full of pics.
I guess that wasn't so very long ago. It's been a long time since printed any B/W photos in the bathroom with the red lightbulb turned on and a lot longer since I developed film.

Yup. Same with me.

We had an outside hand pump for drinking and cooking water. :50:

I use the microwave every day...

We now have cars instead of the horse and buggy I grew up with; and, since the invention of fire, my meat tastes a lot better.

I may be the last person in America who doesn't own a microwave. I don't have anything against them. I just never got around to it.

SO! She reads these forums, too? ;)